University of Milan and Federated Innovation join the governance of Fondazione Triulza

Fondazione Triulza strengthens the ties and operational collaboration between the academic world and those of research, business and the Third Sector within Milano Innovation District – Mind , involving universities, businesses and Third Sector entities in the governance of the Foundation itself and its subsidiary La Triulza Srl for social innovation and technology and skills transfer . With this strategic objective, after the Polytechnic of Milan , the University of Milan and the Federated Innovation @Mind business network also become part of the network.

Marina Brambilla , rector of the University of Milan, is among the new members of the recently renewed board of directors of the Triulza Foundation together with Silvia Bolchi (Acli Milano), Barbara Farina (Legacoop Lombardia) and Giampaolo Silvestri (Avsi Foundation). Massimo Minelli (Confcooperative nazionale) has been confirmed as president, Barbara Meggetto (Legambiente Nazionale) as vice president and the directors Luigi Colzani (CsvNet Lombardia), Sergio Silvotti (Forum Terzo settore Lombardia) and Mario Calderini (Polytechnic University of Milan). Fabrizio Grillo , president of Federated Innovation @Mind, joins the board of directors of the subsidiary La Triulza Srl, which is also renewed with the entry of Barbara Farina (Legacoop Lombardia). Massimo Minelli (Confcooperative nazionale) and the directors Giovanni Colombo (Enaip Lombardia Foundation), Igor Guida (Consorzio nazionale Cgm) and Marco Lucchini (Fondazione Banco Alimentare Onlus) have been confirmed. The new members of the Board of Directors were appointed by the latest General Council of founders of Fondazione Triulza, the main network of Third Sector and civil economy entities in Italy, which shares the strategy of expanding collaborations with the academic, research and business worlds to innovate.

"The entry of the rector of the University of Milan into the governance of Fondazione Triulza – where we have been able to count on the active presence of Professor Mario Calderini of the Polytechnic of Milan for several years – and of the president of Federated Innovation @Mind into the Board of Directors of La Triulza Srl, is a great added value for our work and for the entire world of the Third Sector and the civil economy", comments Massimo Minelli, president of Fondazione Triulza. "We see the interest of the academic world, research and the most innovative companies in working with our networks and organizations confirmed, with the common goal of making capacity building and technology transfer paths increasingly efficient, aimed at generating social innovation and impact for all. In Mind we have created a gym to experiment with new forms of social economy, in line with the EU Social Economy Action Plan , which we are declining in the experimentation of social procurement in collaboration with Federated companies and in the development of various growth and technology transfer projects in which 76 social-tech start-ups and scale-ups have already been involved.

"I am very pleased to join the governance of Fondazione Triulza, a role that I welcome with satisfaction, convinced that direct participation in the decision-making bodies will further strengthen the effectiveness of the collaborations that we carry out with all the entities present in Mind", says the rector Marina Brambilla. "In particular, with Fondazione Triulza, a laboratory of social innovation, the University goes beyond its institutional boundaries to dialogue and team up with civil society , a concrete testimony of our commitment to the third mission. I am certain that, now even more, we will be able to make a significant contribution to the cultural and social development of our territory, strengthening together the public value of knowledge".

"I am also pleased to have been appointed member of the board of La Triulza Srl", underlines Fabrizio Grillo, president of Federated Innovation @Mind. "Since the beginning of my term as president, I have wanted to consolidate in a coordinated and assertive way the relationship with the world of the Third Sector, present in the District since the themes of Expo 2015 thanks to Fondazione Triulza, an actor of extraordinary importance. The development of the projects of the companies belonging to Federated Innovation cannot advance without constant attention to the theme of social impact and responsible procurement : this is the reason why the collaboration begun with La Triulza will be a fundamental element in the advancement of our activities".

The work on social procurement began last February in a co-design table organized as part of the Social Innovation Campus in which several companies and all the Mind anchors participated. In the area of ​​technology transfer towards the Third Sector, after the experimentation of the Social Tech Path (in collaboration with the mutual funds Fondo Sviluppo-Confcooperative, Coopfond-Legacoop and General Fond-Agci ), in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano, the Triulza Foundation created the Technology for Health and Social Challenges project in 2024, which combines biomedical technology and social impact, and since 2024 it has activated various training, incubation and acceleration services as part of the Catch at Mind project (Advanced digital technology hub for the life sciences at Mind) led by the University of Milan. The Triulza Foundation also co-finances two PhD research grants from the University of Milan on the topics of intersectoral innovation and social inclusion.

Photo credit : Triulza Foundation